The Statistics and Cancer Control division is in charge of conducting data collection, integrated management, analysis and dissemination of cancer information at the national level by means of the following aspects; to support and maintain population-based and hospital-based cancer registries for monitoring cancer occurrence, to conduct descriptive epidemiologic analysis on cancer mortality and incidence; to collect and review information on cancer prevention and early detection; to manage the multi-center cooperative clinical trials data coordinating center (JCOG data center); and to conduct economic evaluation and health services research in cancer care based on clinical information.

Establishment of a cancer surveillance system in Japan is one of the main objectives in the third term comprehensive 10-year program for Cancer Control. In particular, as basic infrastructures for the surveillance system, population-based and hospital-based cancer registries should be completed urgently in an earlier phase in the program. The Division plays an important roll as a driving force for the standardization and quality improvements of both types of cancer registries; it develops data standards for cancer registration, holds a 1 week workshop for cancer registrars twice a year, develops standardized cancer registry software to provide to prefectural cancer registry offices and designated regional cancer treatment centers, and disseminates up-to-date information on cancer-registry-related issues through websites (http://ncrp.ncc.go.jp and http://jcdb.ncc.go.jp). Furthermore, the Division has managed the National Cancer Center Hospital Cancer Registry since 2004.

The Division takes charge of descriptive analyses of cancer incidences and mortalities, which are essential to monitor and evaluate the National Cancer Control Program in Japan. Trends in lung cancer mortality and smoking status were reported ^{(288, 289)}. Lung cancer death rates by smoking status were examined using one of the largest prospective cohort study datasets in Japan, and the results were compared with the results of a major American cohort study ⁽²⁹⁰⁾. International comparisons of cancer mortality were also performed among five developed countries using the WHO mortality database ^(291-302). In collaboration with the Japan Public Health Center-based prospective Study, the association of various risk factors and cancer incidence are evaluated. The effects of smoking on the future mortality trend are being evaluated using statistical models such as the Markov and Age-Period-Cohort models.

The guidelines for cancer screening have been updated based on new research following the report 'Evaluation effectiveness of cancer screening' (Hisamichi S Ed.) published in 2001, through which the guideline development process was standardized. Based on a standardized process, the guidelines for colorectal and gastric cancer screening were developed. The guideline for lung cancer screening is now being revised. The accuracy management of various examinations for cancer screening is promoted by collecting the information from related institutions in all prefectures. Since the compliance of cancer screening in Japan is low compared with Western developed countries, strategies to improve compliance are examined.

Using data from the hospital information system in the National Cancer Center Hospital, the project analyzed clinical records of lung cancer surgery patients. The study described practice patterns from the patients' first visit to the hospital, and clarified how pre-operative length of stay could be shortened by offloading necessary tests to outpatient services. The project also contributed to the refinement of the Japanese prospective payment system, through analysis of nation-wide data. An analysis of approximately 40,000 inpatient chemotherapy cases from over 170 hospitals has been published, and it revealed the existence of wide practice variations in Japan. Another analysis of data spanning two years pre and post introduction of the prospective payment system described adaptation of hospitals to the new system, such as reduction in the use of examinations and pharmaceuticals.

The Division is running the data coordinating center of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG), a nationwide multi-institutional, multi-disease, multi-modality cooperative study group supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research and Health Sciences Research Grants from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, in collaboration with the Society of Japanese Pharmacopoeia. It is currently managing approximately 70 clinical trials. Designing clinical trials ⁽³⁰³⁾, periodical monitoring for data and safety, interim and final analyses are performed for all studies through data management, statistics and clinical teams. A new web-based clinical data management system, which is expected to increase the performance of data management and the quality of data, is now under test. Final results of the phase III study ⁽³⁰⁴⁾, phase II studies, and an ancillary study of the JCOG clinical trial ⁽³⁰⁵⁾ have been reported. As an intramural research project, methodological research for data management was also conducted. The JCOG data center supports clinical research other than JCOG studies on a consultancy basis ^{(306, 307)}.

The National Cancer Center is designated by the World Health Organization as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference on Smoking and Health, and the Division takes the responsibility of running the Centre. It will cover the following aspects; to collect and analyze information and data on smoking and health, to be a clearing house for information on smoking and health, and to support implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).